But that was swept away yesterday when Prime Minister Gordon Brown handed them out to the other players and families of the backroom staff.

The players were also paraded on the Wembley pitch before last night's game against Andorra.

World Cup winner George Cohen collected a medal on behalf of late team manager Sir Alf Ramsey's family.

David Cocker accepted a medal on behalf of his dad, team physio Les Cocker, and Margaret Shepherdson received one on behalf of her late husband, the team trainer Harold Shepherdson.

The Prime Minister said: "It is a tremendous honour to be the person who is presenting you with your medals. We are so proud of all your careers."

He also told the players that justice had fi nally been done 43 years after the final, saying: "You made history. "You showed England could win the World Cup and showed that England could host the World Cup tournament."

Former Spurs and Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves said: "Sir Alf would have been proud because he would also have got a medal. Had he lived, we might have got them a bit sooner."